How to Decorate Tall Spaces Above Kitchen Cabinets

Group taller decor pieces to fill the space above the cabinet's top.

The space above a kitchen cabinet can be difficult to decorate, and when it’s taller than average the space can be overwhelming. As you work, remember that you will be looking at the items from the floor when you're done, not head on. Use big enough pieces to have an impact from the final vantage point, and get down from the ladder regularly for a full view of the project's progress. To further highlight the items you choose and make them stand out, install recessed lighting along the ceiling, centered on the cabinets below.

Start with One Piece or Idea

Start with one large piece or idea and work your decor around it, collecting additional pieces from your home and buying items as needed. This approach makes staying focused easier, creating a jumping-off point for choosing decor. It also ultimately reduces the chances of the space looking cluttered rather than well designed. The piece you choose can be the focal point or just a smaller piece that you love the look of and want to use as a starting point for your design. When deciding on a theme, look to your kitchen's style as a whole and find items based on it.

Create Layers

Unless you have a modern kitchen, a straight line of decorations atop the cabinet will look stuffy and out of place, especially when that space is very tall. To create interest and dimension, work from the back wall to the front edge of the cabinet. Stagger the layers by arranging bigger pieces towards the back and on the corners and fluctuating between one and three rows of items depending on the depth of the space. To work smaller items in, place them atop bigger pieces. For example, to display a standard size crystal dish, place it on a large, decorative box to bring it to a noticeable height. When working with same-height items, alter the directions and the positions they face relative to the cabinet edge to create a similar effect.

Finishes, Textures and Sizes

Contrast between pieces is what turns a ho-hum space into something amazing, and with taller spaces, you have a lot of ways to explore this idea. Play with this idea by arranging different pieces together along a table, noticing how each one changes slightly when placed next to something with a different finish or feel. Translate your findings to the arrangement along the cabinet tops. Even when using items that are all technically the same, such as a collection of glass pieces, use items with a smooth finish, some that are slightly tinted and others that have a texture to create interest.

Breaking Up Tall Spaces

When there’s a fair amount of space between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling, add an additional shelf in between to break up the height and increase your decorating options. Utilize this shelf to showcase a statement piece and make the shelf decorative on its own, coordinating it with the cabinets below. In place of a shelf, center one very large piece in the tallest empty space to set the scene for the rest of the decor. Work within the architectural aspects of the kitchen. For example, center a rounded, large vase on the top of the cabinet underneath the highest peak of a vaulted ceiling, using the shape of the vase to balance the sharpness of the ceiling. To fill space without clutter, hang artwork on the wall above the cabinets, adding a few larger ornamental items in between the artwork for layering. While this doesn’t work in the average kitchen, when you have a taller area it creates a classic, pulled-together effect, and utilizes most or all of the available space.